Fun times

It’s November already! My favourite month of the year. Mostly because I always tend to eat very well in November. November has been my busiest month of the year since as long as I can remember. Exams, exhibitions, end of year projects and best of all, my birthday! 

I’m looking forward to my birthday this Tuesday and Taste of Auckland on Thursday. Bring on the festivities! It’s pretty awesome that they’re both in the same week, I’m going to pretend that I made it this way. ‘Coz you know, I have that kind of power 😀

A new toy

I bought myself an early birthday present this year. I had been thinking about it for a while, but after The Koala bought himself a nice present (a new computer), I decided I needed wanted a new toy too.

My Nikon D3000 has served me well for a few years and it was time for an upgrade. Cameras have come a looooong way since 2009. I’ve upgraded from a 10mp camera to a 24mp camera. I had 1,600 ISO and now 12,800 ISO which I hope will improve my low light photography by lot. This camera also has live view and a movie function, both new features my old dslr didn’t have.

I only had to buy the body since I already have a lens I love. I found a parallel importer selling the body only for half the price of some regular shops. So I’m looking forward to taking lots of new photos and getting familiar with my new camera.

I treated myself to the Nikon D5300 (pictured above).

No, I didn’t end up getting the red version. I love it but couldn’t find it. Plus, I think people take black cameras more seriously. I already have trouble being brave enough to ask strangers if I can take a photograph of them, it would be in my best interests if I look like a semi-pro.

It’s not just a toy though, I’ve been picking up a few photography jobs this year and last week I shot a photography job on my new camera. I just need another big photography job and my new camera will have paid for itself! Sweet!

Our Growing Edge November – holiday sides and sweets

With a new month, comes a new edition of Our Growing Edge and November is hosted by Linda from The Orange Bee.

Linda is a food loving, beekeeping blogger with Texas roots but now based in North Carolina. Thinking ahead to when the round up will be published in early December, Linda has suggested a holiday sides and sweets theme.

Recreate that incredible side dish you tasted at a potluck. Or that holiday sweet that you saw in a magazine and never got around to. Make a festive salad with the most unusual ingredient you can find. Recreate a classic dessert in your family with a modern twist. Play with classic holiday spices and flavours. Mash up two classic holiday sides and turn it into a familiar but strange dish. Think colour, think flavours. So many options!

Our Growing Edge is the part of us that is still learning and experimenting. It’s the part that you regularly grow and improve, be it from real passion or a conscious effort. The monthly event aims to connect and inspire us to try new things and to compile a monthly snapshot of what food bloggers are getting up to.

Our Growing Edge is open to anyone. It is not a competition and there are no prizes or winners, it is just a way  to share new experiences. You do not have to commit every month, just when you have something to share. To enter, you must blog about achieving a food related challenge that you have meaning to do (or redo). It could be easy, like tasting a new food or difficult, like cooking a life long nemesis recipe. It could be building or growing something an edible garden, or successfully preserving food. As long as it is food related and new to you, you can share your newly learned knowledge with the group.

To join, click on the submission button below: